Should Mayella Ewell Be Fully and Solely Responsible for Her Actions?

   Jaine Kang | Ms. McKay | ENG2D1 | December 10, 2015

Should Mayella Ewell be fully and solely responsible for her actions? - PRO

                   To Kill A Mockingbird is a coming-of-age novel written by Harper Lee. Published

on July 11, 1960, it has since won the Pulitzer Prize and received high commendation. It's a

tale of two siblings Scout and Jem who uncover the real world, through their neighbor Arthur

"Boo" Radley, and a case involving a black man accused of rape. Evidently, that woman

happened to be Mayella Ewell, who which is still in debate today should be decided if she

deserves to be condemned, or pitied. Regarding the case of Tom Robinson, Mayella Ewell

commenced the chain of events leading to a jailing of an innocent man, and a madman on the

loose. As well as, Mayella Ewell's choices being in the mind of a full grown woman of 19, she

should be fully aware of the actions she can do that can harm others. Lastly as an ending point

of my argument, Mayella Ewell did more harm than good. Mayella Ewell brought forth mournful

doom, and terror to the once peaceful Maycomb County in to what is now ringing with tears, and

despair. Hence, Mayella Ewell should be fully and solely responsible for her actions regarding

the Tom Robinson case, and deserves condemnation, not pity.

                   Mayella Ewell created the chain of events that lead to disaster around her. Ever since,

Mayella's accusation of Tom Robinson, things have never been the same for Jem, Scout, and  

the rest of Maycomb. First because, Mayella's case was a special one. Even from the

beginning, Atticus knew this case was going to be difficult. Any case involving a black man,

everyone knew it was out of question that it would not have a happy ending, however this one

lasted for a long time considerably because of Atticus' thorough cross-examinations. Also,

because it has stated, there were not many lawsuits involving the people of Maycomb anyway.

Jem and Scout endured many malicious taunts, and general unsuitable kinds of terms and

sayings a 7 year old and 12 year old should not hear. When she went to visit Aunt Alexandra

and her family, her cousin Francis continuously called Atticus, a nigger lover. "Grandma says it's

bad enough he lets you run all wild, but now he's turned out a nigger-lover we'll never be able to

walk the streets of Maycomb again. He's ruinin' the family, that's what he's doing."(Lee, page

110) Ms. Dubose, whom was a very sick lady, also called their father the similar term, except

maybe with a bit more malice, such as, "Not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the

courtroom lawing for niggers. Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for!"

(page 135) Unfortunately, the condition gets worse. Mayella Ewell's lawsuit against Tom

Robinson caused the deaths of two people, one of which was her very own father, Bob Ewell.

Eventually, as well as Tom himself. Things would have been a lot peaceful without the lawsuit.

For everyone.

                   Mayella Ewell was a capable, grown woman in charge of herself, making her own

choices. Why did she have to pass around evil for her own selfish reasons? For her own

inhumane survival? The judges also stated that she's a big girl, "Now you're a big girl, so you